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Shia fighters from the Popular Mobilization Units flash victory signs as they gather outside Fallujah, July 9, 2015. (AFP/File)

The Iraqi army along with forces belonging to Popular Mobilization Units have inflicted heavy losses on the ISIL group as Baghdad starts a massive operation to liberate the restive province of al-Anbar.

According to an Iraqi army officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, the joint Iraqi forces stormed the positions of the group near the provincial capital of Ramadi on Tuesday.

“The Iraqi army and the Hashed al-Shaabi are pounding IS (ISIL) positions with rockets and mortar rounds east, west and south of Ramadi,” the army officer said.

Another Iraqi officer said the joint forces are advancing on the city from three main axes.

“The heroes of our armed forces, police, al-Hashd al-Shaabi volunteers and tribal fighters will announce the news of victory of Anbar liberation soon, God willing,” the office of the Iraqi premier said in a statement.

Ahmed al-Asadi, the spokesman for al-Hashd al-Shaabi forces, said on Tuesday that the joint forces have liberated a number of areas including the village of Tahouna on the outskirts of the city of Fallujah in َAnbar.

Iraqi security forces backed by al-Hashd al-Shaabi forces “managed to liberate the areas of Shihabi, al-bujasm, al-Halabsa and other areas in the north of Saqlawiyah,” Asadi said.

Iraqi forces managed to kill scores of militants belonging to the ISIL group in the district of al-Baghdadi in Anbar on Monday.

The northern and western parts of Iraq have been plagued by violence ever since ISIL militants began their march through Iraqi territory in June 2014.

A new report released by the United Nations shows that terrorism and armed conflict have left nearly 15,000 civilians dead and twice as many wounded in Iraq since the start of 2014 as the conflict-stricken Arab country continues to battle the ISIL militants.